A device provides content for display to a first user device associated with a user, and provides for display, to the first user device, an option to share the content. The device receives a selection of the option from the first user device, and causes a list of contacts, associated with the user, to be presented for display, on the first user device, based on the selection of the option. The device receives, from the first user device, a selection of a contact from the list of contacts, and receives, from the first user device, a message from the user for the selected contact. The device provides for display the message with the content, to the first user device and to a second user device, associated with the selected contact. The message is privately provided to only the first user device and the second user device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method, comprising: providing, by a device, content for display to a first user device associated with a user, the user being a subscriber of the content; providing for display, by the device and to the first user device, an option to share the content; receiving, by the device, a selection of the option from the first user device; causing, by the device and on the first user device, a list of contacts, associated with the user, to be presented for display based on the selection of the option; receiving, by the device and from the first user device, a selection of a contact, as a selected contact, from the list of contacts; receiving, by the device and from the first user device, a private message from the user for the selected contact; providing, by the device and to a second user device, a version of an address of the content and information identifying the second user device, the selected contact being associated with the second user device, and the selected contact not being a subscriber of the content; providing, for display, by the device and to the first user device and the second user device, a private version of the content, the private version of the content including the private message, the private version of the content being privately viewable only by the first user device and the second user device, and the private version of the content expiring after a particular amount of time; receiving, by the device and from the second user device, a response to the private message regarding the content, the response to the private message being for the user; and providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the response to the private message, the response to the private message being included in the private version of the content.
A system allows users to share content privately with their contacts within a content provider's website or application. When a user views content, they can select a "share" option, which displays a list of their contacts. After selecting a contact and writing a message, the system sends a link to the content and the user's message to the selected contact's device. The contact doesn't need to be a subscriber of the content. Both the original user and the contact can view a private version of the content with the embedded message, but only they have access. The shared content and message expire after a certain time. If the contact replies to the message, that reply is shown to both users within the private version of the content.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, from the first user device and the second user device, a conversation between the user and the selected contact; and providing for display the conversation, with the content, to the first user device and the second user device, the conversation being included in the private version of the content.
The private content sharing system described above also allows the original user and the selected contact to have a text conversation about the shared content. This conversation is also displayed within the private content view and is only visible to the original user and the selected contact. The conversation is included in the private version of the content.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: storing the conversation between the user and the selected contact.
The private content sharing system described above, which allows users to share content and have conversations, also stores the conversations between the users. The storing happens server-side.
4. The method of claim 1 , where, prior to providing the content for display to the first user device, the method further comprises: providing a request for a messaging code to a server device, the messaging code enabling the device to provide, for display, a private conversation between the user and the selected contact, with the content; receiving the messaging code from the server device based on the request; providing, to the server device, information identifying preferences for the messaging code; receiving, from the server device, configuration information for the messaging code based on the information identifying the preferences; and configuring the messaging code based on the configuration information.
Before the system provides the content for sharing, it obtains a "messaging code" from a server. This code allows the system to enable private conversations alongside the shared content. The system can also send preferences for this code to the server, such as UI customizations, and receives configuration information back, which is then used to set up the messaging code's behavior.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing, to a server device, a device identifier associated with the first user device; and receiving, from the server device and based on the device identifier, information identifying the user and the list of contacts of the user.
The system identifies the user and their contact list by sending the user's device ID to a server. The server then returns the user's information and list of contacts based on this ID.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing the private message and information identifying the content to a message server device, the message server device providing the private message and the information identifying the content to the second user device in a particular format associated with the selected contact.
The system delivers the private message and content information to a dedicated message server. This server then forwards the message and content information to the recipient's device, formatting it according to the recipient's device's specifications or preferred format.
7. The method of claim 1 , where providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private version of the content comprises: at least one of: providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private message at a beginning of the private version of the content, providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private message at an end of the private version of the content, or providing for display, by the device and to the first user device and to the second user device, the private message within a scrolled portion of the private version of the content.
When the system displays the shared content and message, the message can appear at the beginning of the content, at the end, or within a scrollable section of the content.
8. A device, comprising: one or more processors to: provide content for display to a first user device associated with a user, the user being a subscriber to the content, provide for display, to the first user device, an option to share the content, receive a selection of the option from the first user device, cause a list of contacts, associated with the user, to be presented for display, on the first user device, based on the selection of the option, receive, from the first user device, a selection of a contact, as a selected contact, from the list of contacts, receive, from the first user device, a private message from the user for the selected contact, provide, to a second user device, a version of an address of the content and information identifying the second user device, the selected contact being associated with the second user device, and the selected contact not being a subscriber to the content, provide, for display, to the first user device and to the second user device, a private version of the content, the private version of the content including the private message, the private version of the content being privately viewable only by the first user device and the second user device, and the private version of the content expiring after a particular amount of time; receive, from the second user device, a response to the private message regarding the content, the response to the private message being for the user; and provide, for display to the first user device and to the second user device, the response to the private message, the response to the private message being included in the private version of the content.
A device implements private content sharing by showing content to a user who subscribes, then showing an option to share it. Selecting the share option shows a contact list. After a contact and a message are selected, a link to the content and user's message is sent to the contact's device, which need not be a subscriber. The original user and contact can view a private content with the message, but only they can see it. The content and message expire after some time. Any reply from the contact is displayed to both users within the private content.
9. The device of claim 8 , where the one or more processors are further to: receive, from the first user device and the second user device, a conversation between the user and the selected contact, and provide for display the conversation, with the content, to the first user device and the second user device, the conversation being included in the private version of the content.
The device from the previous description, which implements private content sharing, also allows the original user and the selected contact to have a text conversation that gets displayed within the private content, visible only to them.
10. The device of claim 9 , where the one or more processors are further to: store the conversation between the user and the selected contact, and utilize the stored conversation to modify the content provided by the device.
The device described above, which enables private content sharing and conversations, also stores the conversation between the users. This stored conversation can be used to dynamically modify the content provided by the device.
11. The device of claim 8 , where, prior to providing the content for display to the first user device, the one or more processors are further to: provide a request for a messaging code to a server device, the messaging code enabling the device to provide, for display, a private conversation between the user and the selected contact, with the content, receive the messaging code from the server device based on the request, provide, to the server device, information identifying preferences for the messaging code, receive, from the server device, configuration information for the messaging code based on the information identifying the preferences, and configure the messaging code based on the configuration information.
The device implementing private content sharing first requests a "messaging code" from a server. This code is needed for private conversations. The device sends preferences for the code to the server and then configures the messaging code based on the configuration information it receives back.
12. The device of claim 8 , where the one or more processors are further to: provide, to a server device, a device identifier associated with the first user device, and receive, from the server device and based on the device identifier, information identifying the user and the list of contacts of the user.
The device identifies the user and their contact list by sending its device ID to a server. The server then returns the user's information and contacts.
13. The device of claim 8 , where the one or more processors are further to: provide the private message and information identifying the content to a message server device, the message server device providing the private message and the information identifying the content to the second user device in a particular format associated with the selected contact, and the second user device accessing the content via the information identifying the content.
The device sends the private message and content information to a separate message server. That server then sends the formatted message and content link to the recipient's device. The contact's device uses the content information to access the shared content.
14. The device of claim 8 , where the one or more processors, when providing, for display, the private version of the content to the first user device and to the second user device, are to: provide, for display, the private message within a scrolled portion of the content.
When displaying the shared content and message, the message is presented within a scrollable part of the content.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing instructions, the instructions comprising: one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to: provide content for display to a first user device associated with a user, the user being a subscriber to the content, provide for display, to the first user device, an option to share the content, receive a selection of the option from the first user device, cause a list of contacts, associated with the user, to be presented for display, on the first user device, based on the selection of the option, receive, from the first user device, a selection of a contact, as a selected contact, from the list of contacts, receive, from the first user device, a private message from the user for the selected contact, provide, to a second user device, a version of an address of the content and information identifying the second user device, the selected contact being associated with the second user device, and the selected contact not being a subscriber to the content, provide, for display, to the first user device and to the second user device, a private version of the content, the private version of the content including the private message, the private version of the content being privately viewable only by the first user device and the second user device, and the private version of the content expiring after a particular amount of time; receive, from the second user device, a response to the private message regarding the content, and the response to the private message being for the user; and provide, for display, to the first user device and to the second user device, the response to the private message, the response to the private message being included in the private version of the content.
A computer-readable storage medium contains instructions that, when executed, cause a device to: display content for a subscriber, show a "share" option, present a contact list upon share selection, and allow message entry. A link to the content and the message are sent to the chosen contact's device, which doesn't need to subscribe. The original user and contact can view a private content with the message, but only they have access. This expires over time. Replies from the contact are also displayed within this private view.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: receive, from the first user device and the second user device, a conversation between the user and the selected contact, and provide for display the conversation, with the content, to the first user device and the second user device, the conversation being included in the private version of the content.
The computer-readable medium described above, which implements private content sharing, also contains instructions that allow users to have a text conversation visible only to the sender and recipient displayed with the shared content.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: store the conversation between the user and the selected contact.
The computer-readable medium described above, which facilitates private content sharing and conversation, also includes instructions to store the conversation between the users.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: provide, to a server device, a device identifier associated with the first user device, and receive, from the server device and based on the device identifier, information identifying the user and the list of contacts of the user.
The computer-readable medium described above includes instructions for identifying the user and their contact list by sending the device's ID to a server, and then obtaining the user and contact information in response.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: provide the private message and information identifying the content to a message server device, the message server device providing the private message and the information identifying the content to the second user device in a particular format associated with the selected contact, and the second user device accessing the content via the information identifying the content.
The computer-readable medium described above, which allows private content sharing with messages, includes instructions to send the message and content information to a separate message server for delivery to the recipient in a format suitable for their device. The recipient then accesses the content.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: receive, from the first user device, a selection of a second contact, as a second selected contact, from the list of contacts, receive, from the first user device, a second message from the user for the second selected contact, provide, for display, the second message within the content, to the first user device and to a third user device, associated with the second selected contact, the second message being privately displayed to only the first user device and the third user device, receive, from the third user device, a response to the second message for the user, and provide, for display, the response to the second message within the content, to the first user device and to the third user device, associated with the second selected contact, the response to the second message being privately displayed to only the first user device and the third user device.
The computer-readable medium described above allows a user to share content with multiple contacts separately. After sending the first message, the user can select a second contact and send a second message. This second message is displayed with the content, but only to the original user and the second contact. The second contact's reply is also only shown to those two users.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 18, 2013
May 23, 2017
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